bones
Having announced Ezekiel 36:24-38 the restoration of the nation, Jehovah now gives in vision and symbol the method of its accomplishment. Ezekiel 37:11 gives the clue. The "bones" are the whole house of Israel who shall then be living. The "graves" are the nations where they dwell. The order of procedure is:
(1) the bringing of the people out Ezekiel 37:12-14 Ezekiel 37:19-27
(2) the bringing of them in ( Ezekiel 37:12 );
(3) their conversion ( Ezekiel 37:13 )
(4) the filling with the Spirit ( Ezekiel 37:14 ).
The symbol follows. The two sticks are Judah and the ten tribes; united, they are one nation ( Ezekiel 37:19-21 ). Then follows ( Ezekiel 37:21-27 ) the plain declaration as to Jehovah's purpose, and Ezekiel 37:28 implies that then Jehovah will become known to the Gentiles in a marked way. This is also the order of Acts 15:16 Acts 15:17 and the two passages strongly indicate the time of full Gentile conversion. See also Isaiah 11:10 .